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Fernando Alonso reveals why he almost quit F1 last year

Michelle R. Martinelli
Published 5:13 p.m. ET March 13, 2018

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso almost called it quits last year.

After struggling in recent seasons with his McLaren team, the 36-year-old racer considered leaving F1 at the end of the 2017 season, especially after a strong run in the Indy 500 last May reminded him what it's like to be in contention. According to a story being published in the new issue of the F1 Racing magazine, the IndyCar Series in the U.S. and endurance races were on his mind last year.

"Yes, I did think about the possibility of changing series and stopping Formula 1," he said in an interview being published in the next edition of the F1 Racing magazine. "After I did the Indy 500 last year, when I came back there were a couple of races in Austria, Silverstone, when I thought, 'Maybe next year I could try a different series; I could do full commitment to the triple crown and do Indy and Le Mans and maybe that's the best thing'."

"But I felt it was not the time for me to step out - not right now, not after these results, not with this feeling. I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life and that I would have this bad taste for the rest of my racing career.

"So definitely I still want to succeed. There is unfinished business for me and McLaren together. And I think this year is the time all these things will change. I feel pretty sure about that."